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Plane Chaos Was 'Unprecedented Systems Failure'

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 13 Desember 2014 | 22.56

The computer meltdown that hit UK airports yesterday was sparked by an unprecedented systems failure, it has been disclosed.

Air traffic control company Nats has offered its first detailed explanation of the problem at its national centre in Swanwick, Hampshire.

More than 300 flights were cancelled or delayed after the computer failure.

A statement from Nats said: "Swanwick controller workstations provide a number of tools and services to the controller to enable them to safely control a high volume of air traffic.

"In normal operations the number of workstations in use versus in standby fluctuates with the demands of the traffic being controlled.

"In this instance a transition between the two states caused a failure in the system which has not been seen before.

"The failure meant that the controllers were unable to access all of the data regarding individual flight plans which significantly increases their workload.

"Our priority is to maintain a safe operation for the flying public; consequently when the failure occurred we immediately took steps to reduce the traffic into and out of the UK network.

"The controllers had a full radar picture and full communications with all aircraft at all times during the incident and at no time was safety compromised in any way."

Nats said it understood the problem was connected to a number of workstations "in a certain state" combined with the number of "air space sectors" open.

Officials restricted air space in response to the issue, leaving flights at some airports grounded yesterday.

Nats declared that its systems were back to full operational capacity last night but a knock-on effect has been seen at airports.

By Saturday morning, timetables were returning to normal, although Heathrow said 38 flights had been cancelled before 9.30am and Gatwick Airport was cancelling a handful of flights.

Friday's problems came just over a year after hundreds of flights were affected when problems arose with a telephone system at Nats in early December 2013.

There were reports passengers on some flights were unable to collect their luggage and were told that it would be sent on to them by courier.

Other airports where travellers suffered delays on Friday included Manchester, Birmingham, Stansted and Luton, but airports as far north as Aberdeen and Edinburgh were affected.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the disruption was unacceptable. He has been summoned before the Commons' Transport Select Committee on Monday to answer questions about the failure.


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Hundreds Of British Troops To Be Sent To Iraq

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

Hundreds of British soldiers are to be sent to Iraq to help the fight against Islamic State, Sky News understands.

They will make up a training mission to assist the Iraqi Army and Kurdish Peshmerga.

The soldiers - expected to number a few hundred - will go to the region "within weeks" senior military sources have said.

The National Security Council is expected to rubber-stamp the mission when it meets on Tuesday.

Although small groups of British troops have conducted similar missions over the past few months, this will be much greater in size and on a more permanent basis.

A team of military advisors recently went to the country to scope out options.

It's believed the mission will be largely split between the capital Baghdad and Irbil in the Kurdish controlled north.

It hasn't been confirmed which regiments the troops will be drawn from.

The UK government has repeatedly insisted that any such training mission would not constitute 'boots-on-the-ground' although British Special Forces are operating in the region.

In October a dozen soldiers from The Yorkshire Regiment were dispatched to Irbil to train the Kurds to use heavy machine guns.

An advisory team has also been embedded in the Iraqi military HQ, working alongside the Americans.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman wouldn't confirm the specifics of the latest mission but did say: "The Defence Secretary announced the intention to provide further training to the Iraqi military in early November.

"No decisions on troop numbers, units or locations have been made, so this is purely speculation at this stage."

The British contribution will fit into a wider mission involving a number of nations.

Earlier this week, the most senior US Commander Lt Gen James Terry revealed that the coalition training mission would involve around 1,500 soldiers.

US special operations troops have already set up a training base at the Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar Province.

Germany recently pledged around 100 soldiers to help train the Peshmerga in northern Iraq. That mission, if approved, will begin early next year.

NATO has also said it would explore options if the Iraqi government came forward with an official request.

The Alliance said that any training mission wouldn't necessarily be based in Iraq. Neighbouring Jordan has been used for similar projects.


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Murphy Named Scottish Labour Party Leader

Jim Murphy MP is the new leader of the Scottish Labour Party, comfortably beating Holyrood health spokesman Neil Findlay and former Scottish Executive minister Sarah Boyack.

The East Renfrewshire MP and former Secretary Of State for Scotland had been favourite to win the race triggered by the resignation of previous leader Johann Lamont.

After the announcement, Mr Murphy, who received 55.77% of the vote, said: "Today is the fulfilment of a dream for me."

Speaking to Labour party members at the Glasgow Emirates Arena, he joked that he had always dreamed of being appointed captain of a team in the east end of Glasgow.

He said becoming leader was a "remarkable honour".

"Scotland is changing and so too must Scottish Labour. I'm ambitious for our party because I'm ambitious for our country."

Mr Murphy told Sky News' Anna Jones: "This is fresh start for the Scottish Labour Party. We are going to do things differently. It's a new beginning. We are going to identify new policies and a new approach.

"I want us to use our passion and ingenuity to change our country. I know we can do it if we work together."

He said he would be the one making the decisions for Scottish Labour, not Westminster.

"I am big enough and ugly enough not to be pushed around by anyone. I'll make the decisions, we'll call the shots here in Scotland.

"The Scottish Labour Party is back in business."

Polls indicate that Labour could be routed in Scotland at May's General Election, as support for the SNP rises, but Mr Murphy said he was determined to change that.

1/11

  1. Gallery: Jim Murphy: Scottish Labour Leader's Career

    Jim Murphy was born in 1967 in Glasgow. His family emigrated to South Africa when he was a boy but Murphy returned to Scotland in the 1980s.

As a student he became president of NUS Scotland in 1992 and NUS UK from 1994 to 1996.

]]>

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    Two US Soldiers Killed In Taliban Attack

    Two US soldiers were killed by Taliban forces in Afghanistan on Friday, an American military official said.

    They died during a bomb attack on a Nato convoy in the east of the country.

    More follows...


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    Winter Blast Brings More Travel Misery

    Written By Unknown on Jumat, 12 Desember 2014 | 22.56

    Winter Blast Brings More Travel Misery

    We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

    Severe weather is continuing to batter the UK, bringing gale-force gusts, heavy rain and more travel disruption.

    The Met Office has issued yellow "be aware" warnings for large parts of the country, with snow and ice in parts of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and northern England.

    Winds peaked at 90mph (145kph) overnight at Needles Battery on the west coast of the Isle of Wight.

    Sky News weather forecaster Isobel Lang said: "Even during the morning rush hour winds of 40 to 50mph were reported across southeast England along with some very intense rainfall."

    The bad weather caused disruption to rail services in Wales and Scotland during the morning commute.

    1/7

    1. Gallery: Snow Blankets Parts Of UK

      Middleham Moor in the Yorkshire Dales after overnight snow

    The blanketing of snow came overnight, showing that winter is well and truly here. Continue through for more images

    ]]>
  • ]]>
  • ]]>
  • ]]>

  • And drivers in Scotland, North Wales and the North of England were also advised to allow extra time for their journeys because of ice on the roads.

    In Wales, flooding between Machynlleth and Caersws caused disruption between Pwllheli/Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury. Passengers in these areas were warned to expect delays of almost an hour-and-a-half.

    In Scotland, the poor conditions meant trains could not run between Mallaig and Fort William.

    Some ferry crossings at the Port of Dover were delayed due to the weather conditions, officials said.

    1/21

    1. Gallery: Weather Bomb Explodes On UK Coast

      Large waves roll in near the pier in Blackpool as stormy weather causes disruption across parts of the UK, with power cuts, ferry and train cancellations and difficult driving conditions

    Waves crash onto the promenade

    ]]>

  • Winds in the English Channel were gusting to force 10 amid "very rough" sea conditions.

    But most parts of the country are set to get a break from the stormy weather later in the day.

    Lang said the weather system that has brought the heavy winds and rain will sweep away, meaning conditions dry up and calm down. But it will also turn colder.

    "For the rest of today much of England and Wales will see skies brightening from the north with sunny spells and a scattering of wintry showers," she said.

    1/18

    1. Gallery: Snow And Ice Across Parts Of UK (Dec 8)

      The Met Office issued warnings for snow, ice and wind across Britain. Here Abigail Wright, aged eight, makes a snow angel as she and her family enjoy the overnight snow at the summit of the Kirkstone Pass in Windermere, Lake District

    ]]>

  • "It will feel cold with a northwesterly breeze.

    "Saturday will start crisp and frosty and should be a mostly fine, sunny day. After another frosty night, Sunday will cloud over from the west with rain heading in. Temperatures will pick up a little."

    Weather warnings were also in place in Ireland, with wintry showers forecast in the western and northern counties and snow expected on both lower and higher ground.

    The latest stormy weather comes after a so-called "weather bomb" hit the north of the country over the last two days.

    Waves of 52ft were recorded and thousands of homes were left without power.

    Wind speeds of 144mph were recorded on St Kilda, an uninhabited archipelago 41 miles west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides.

    Gale-force gusts of more than 80mph also struck some northern coastal areas.

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    • Winter Blast Brings More Travel Misery

    We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

    Severe weather is continuing to batter the UK, bringing gale-force gusts, heavy rain and more travel disruption.

    The Met Office has issued yellow "be aware" warnings for large parts of the country, with snow and ice in parts of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and northern England.

    Winds peaked at 90mph (145kph) overnight at Needles Battery on the west coast of the Isle of Wight.

    Sky News weather forecaster Isobel Lang said: "Even during the morning rush hour winds of 40 to 50mph were reported across southeast England along with some very intense rainfall."

    The bad weather caused disruption to rail services in Wales and Scotland during the morning commute.

    1/7

    1. Gallery: Snow Blankets Parts Of UK

      Middleham Moor in the Yorkshire Dales after overnight snow

    The blanketing of snow came overnight, showing that winter is well and truly here. Continue through for more images

    ]]>

  • ]]>

  • ]]>

  • ]]>

  • And drivers in Scotland, North Wales and the North of England were also advised to allow extra time for their journeys because of ice on the roads.

    In Wales, flooding between Machynlleth and Caersws caused disruption between Pwllheli/Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury. Passengers in these areas were warned to expect delays of almost an hour-and-a-half.

    In Scotland, the poor conditions meant trains could not run between Mallaig and Fort William.

    Some ferry crossings at the Port of Dover were delayed due to the weather conditions, officials said.

    1/21

    1. Gallery: Weather Bomb Explodes On UK Coast

      Large waves roll in near the pier in Blackpool as stormy weather causes disruption across parts of the UK, with power cuts, ferry and train cancellations and difficult driving conditions

    Waves crash onto the promenade

    ]]>

  • Winds in the English Channel were gusting to force 10 amid "very rough" sea conditions.

    But most parts of the country are set to get a break from the stormy weather later in the day.

    Lang said the weather system that has brought the heavy winds and rain will sweep away, meaning conditions dry up and calm down. But it will also turn colder.

    "For the rest of today much of England and Wales will see skies brightening from the north with sunny spells and a scattering of wintry showers," she said.

    1/18

    1. Gallery: Snow And Ice Across Parts Of UK (Dec 8)

      The Met Office issued warnings for snow, ice and wind across Britain. Here Abigail Wright, aged eight, makes a snow angel as she and her family enjoy the overnight snow at the summit of the Kirkstone Pass in Windermere, Lake District

    ]]>

  • "It will feel cold with a northwesterly breeze.

    "Saturday will start crisp and frosty and should be a mostly fine, sunny day. After another frosty night, Sunday will cloud over from the west with rain heading in. Temperatures will pick up a little."

    Weather warnings were also in place in Ireland, with wintry showers forecast in the western and northern counties and snow expected on both lower and higher ground.

    The latest stormy weather comes after a so-called "weather bomb" hit the north of the country over the last two days.

    Waves of 52ft were recorded and thousands of homes were left without power.

    Wind speeds of 144mph were recorded on St Kilda, an uninhabited archipelago 41 miles west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides.

    Gale-force gusts of more than 80mph also struck some northern coastal areas.

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    Express Owner Desmond Hands £300k To UKIP

    By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

    The Daily Express owner Richard Desmond has agreed to donate £300,000 to UKIP, bolstering the party's war chest less than five months before the general election.

    Sky News has learnt that Mr Desmond pledged the money to help Nigel Farage, the UKIP leader, ahead of a poll which some political commentators believe could result in the party holding the balance of power at Westminster.

    Mr Desmond and Mr Farage are understood to have discussed the businessman's donation at a meeting earlier this month.

    It was unclear on Friday whether Mr Desmond has actually handed over the money yet or merely committed to doing so.

    The news of Mr Desmond's impending financial support for the party strongly increases the prospect of the Express newspaper titles endorsing UKIP ahead of next May's poll.

    Mr Desmond has expressed public support for Mr Farage's immigration policies and the extent of Brussels' influence over Britain's domestic affairs.

    A recent Daily Express leader column reflected the stance of its proprietor: "Nigel Farage's message is hugely popular across Britain. Huge numbers of people are sick of the EU, sick of mass immigration and sick of a political elite that refuses to listen to the electorate," it said.

    The media tycoon is also understood to have pledged additional financial backing for UKIP during his discussions with Mr Farage, although it is unclear how large future sums might involve.

    "He is sitting on a billion pounds of cash," one ally of Mr Desmond's said.

    There has been speculation that Mr Desmond could be recommended for a peerage by Mr Farage, although some have suggested that the Jewish newspaper owner becoming closer to the party could be complicated by UKIP's affiliation with controversial right-wing parties elsewhere in Europe.

    In October, Mr Desmond appointed Lord Stevens, the UKIP peer and former chairman of Express Newspapers, as his company's deputy chairman.

    Mr Desmond has amassed one of Britain's largest fortunes from a long career in the media industry.

    His ownership of Channel 5, the terrestrial television group, illustrated his talent for transforming the performance of struggling media properties.

    Having acquired it for just over £100m in 2010, he sold the business earlier this year to Viacom, the US media group, for a headline-grabbing price of £450m.

    Through his Northern & Shell holding company, Mr Desmond also owns the Daily Star and its Sunday sister title, and a portfolio of adult-TV channels.

    His backing for UKIP is likely to be interpreted as a blow to David Cameron, who has been courting Mr Desmond's support and recently attended a fundraising event for a Jewish charity for which the Express-owner has raised huge sums of money.

    It is relatively unusual for national newspaper proprietors to make such substantial political donations, although Mr Desmond himself gave who gave £100,000 to Labour during Tony Blair's leadership.

    UKIP has attracted a number of other prominent financial backers, including Paul Sykes, a businessman, who pledged a further £1.5m to the party.

    However, the Financial Times reported on Friday that "war" had broken out at the top of UKIP over the candidacy of the former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton.

    Stuart Wheeler, the party's second-largest donor, is reported to have threatened to curb his financial contributions if Mr Hamilton does not get a seat.

    The donor is also said to have claimed UKIP is running out of money.

    Although changes in the media landscape have made the endorsement of national newspapers less significant than in the past, the main party leaders still view their support at general elections as being of importance.

    Mr Desmond declined to comment. UKIP did not respond to requests for comment.


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    Yodel Suspends Collections Hitting Deliveries

    Yodel Suspends Collections Hitting Deliveries

    We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

    A courier firm handling a large number of Christmas online shopping deliveries has suspended new collections for up to two days.

    Yodel, whose clients include Amazon and Marks and Spencer, has put on hold handling new parcels while it deals with a backlog from Black Friday.

    While the company stresses it is continuing to make deliveries, the temporary freeze on collecting further parcels for distribution will lead to delays of up to three days for goods to arrive.

    Recent retail promotions such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have led to a surge in online orders for goods, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

    1/18

    1. Gallery: Black Friday: Madness In The Shops

      Yes, really. Shoppers have wrestled over a television. It has come that, people. "Black Friday" is in full swing in Britain and the stiff upper lip Brits are famous for has well and truly left the building. This photo was taken at an Asda in Wembley, north London

    Britain's high streets, shopping centres and websites have been awash with discounts as more retailers than ever embraced US-style promotions, seeking to kickstart trading in the key Christmas period

    ]]>

  • The police had to be called in at several supermarkets around the country overnight as thousands of customers hunted for bargains

    ]]>

  • The rush to grab a deal soon descended into chaos as fights broke out at stores and websites of leading chains buckled under the strain. Continue through for more pictures

    ]]>

  • Websites of leading retailers have been crippling under the weight of clicks

    ]]>

  • Yodel has apologised to customers, and said it expects to resume normal service by Monday.

    But angry shoppers have been venting their frustration on Twitter over delivery delays.

    Nick Fowler tweeted: "Hi, ordered over 2 weeks ago still nothing and Yodel tracking just says awaiting collection."

    One exasperated post by James & Courtney said: "Never use Yodel. Been waiting a week and a half for a parcel on 24hr service."

    Marke branded Yodel "the absolute worst", while Naomi Dolby said her experience over a delayed parcel had been "absolutely shocking".

    She wrote: "I can't get hold of a real person at Yodel to track it down."

    And in reply to one customer's delivery query the bookseller Waterstones tweeted: "Yodel are currently handling more parcels than they expected, so some deliveries are taking longer than we would like."

    Yodel said retail promotions such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday had led to "unexpectedly high parcel volumes across the carrier industry".

    In response there had been a "deferment" on some new parcels coming into its sorting centres.

    It said in a statement: "By Monday we expect to resume our normal service. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to our clients and their customers.

    "We are working closely with our clients on their forecasted parcel volumes for the coming weeks, based on this we are confident that the action we are taking will ensure that normal service is resumed after the weekend."

    In a Q&A for concerned customers on its website, Yodel said: "We spent months planning for Christmas, but even with our experience and those of our clients we underestimated how massive the spikes would be. (We were not alone!)

    "The whole of the retail supply chain has felt the impact. Retailer websites have been crashing, there have been backlogs in distribution centres and all parcel delivery companies have felt the strain."

    Posing the question of "Who came up with the idea of Black Friday?", the firm joked: "We don't know but if you find out please can you let us know as we would like a chat with them!"

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    Top Stories

    1. Breaking News: Flights Suspended As London Airspace Shut
    2. Breaking News: Live: Planes Grounded As Airspace Closed
    3. Express Owner Hands £300k To UKIP
    4. Winter Blast Brings More Travel Misery
    5. Man, 80, Guilty Of Acid Attack On Teenage Ex

    • Yodel Suspends Collections Hitting Deliveries

    We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

    A courier firm handling a large number of Christmas online shopping deliveries has suspended new collections for up to two days.

    Yodel, whose clients include Amazon and Marks and Spencer, has put on hold handling new parcels while it deals with a backlog from Black Friday.

    While the company stresses it is continuing to make deliveries, the temporary freeze on collecting further parcels for distribution will lead to delays of up to three days for goods to arrive.

    Recent retail promotions such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have led to a surge in online orders for goods, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

    1/18

    1. Gallery: Black Friday: Madness In The Shops

      Yes, really. Shoppers have wrestled over a television. It has come that, people. "Black Friday" is in full swing in Britain and the stiff upper lip Brits are famous for has well and truly left the building. This photo was taken at an Asda in Wembley, north London

    Britain's high streets, shopping centres and websites have been awash with discounts as more retailers than ever embraced US-style promotions, seeking to kickstart trading in the key Christmas period

    ]]>

  • The police had to be called in at several supermarkets around the country overnight as thousands of customers hunted for bargains

    ]]>

  • The rush to grab a deal soon descended into chaos as fights broke out at stores and websites of leading chains buckled under the strain. Continue through for more pictures

    ]]>

  • Websites of leading retailers have been crippling under the weight of clicks

    ]]>

  • Yodel has apologised to customers, and said it expects to resume normal service by Monday.

    But angry shoppers have been venting their frustration on Twitter over delivery delays.

    Nick Fowler tweeted: "Hi, ordered over 2 weeks ago still nothing and Yodel tracking just says awaiting collection."

    One exasperated post by James & Courtney said: "Never use Yodel. Been waiting a week and a half for a parcel on 24hr service."

    Marke branded Yodel "the absolute worst", while Naomi Dolby said her experience over a delayed parcel had been "absolutely shocking".

    She wrote: "I can't get hold of a real person at Yodel to track it down."

    And in reply to one customer's delivery query the bookseller Waterstones tweeted: "Yodel are currently handling more parcels than they expected, so some deliveries are taking longer than we would like."

    Yodel said retail promotions such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday had led to "unexpectedly high parcel volumes across the carrier industry".

    In response there had been a "deferment" on some new parcels coming into its sorting centres.

    It said in a statement: "By Monday we expect to resume our normal service. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to our clients and their customers.

    "We are working closely with our clients on their forecasted parcel volumes for the coming weeks, based on this we are confident that the action we are taking will ensure that normal service is resumed after the weekend."

    In a Q&A for concerned customers on its website, Yodel said: "We spent months planning for Christmas, but even with our experience and those of our clients we underestimated how massive the spikes would be. (We were not alone!)

    "The whole of the retail supply chain has felt the impact. Retailer websites have been crashing, there have been backlogs in distribution centres and all parcel delivery companies have felt the strain."

    Posing the question of "Who came up with the idea of Black Friday?", the firm joked: "We don't know but if you find out please can you let us know as we would like a chat with them!"

    Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain

    Top Stories

    1. Breaking News: Flights Suspended As London Airspace Shut
    2. Breaking News: Live: Planes Grounded As Airspace Closed
    3. Express Owner Hands £300k To UKIP
    4. Winter Blast Brings More Travel Misery
    5. Man, 80, Guilty Of Acid Attack On Teenage Ex


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    Flights Suspended As London Airspace Shut

    Airspace over London has been closed and flights at southern England airports are suspended until 6pm due to a computer failure.

    Heathrow said there were delays because of a power outage at the NATS air traffic control centre in Swanwick.

    Gatwick said there were no flights departing but flights were arriving.

    NATS confirmed there was a technical problem at Swanwick.

    It said: "We apologise for any delays and our incident response team has been mobilised.

    "Every possible action is being taken to assist in resolving the situation and to confirm the details.

    "Further information will be released as it becomes available."

    Pilot Chris McGee said the impact would be huge as the closure would hit all airports in London and across the South.

    "Friday is a very, very busy time and we are in the peak time," she said.

    Manchester airport said it was unaffected by the airspace closure and was ready to accept diverted flights.

    More follows...


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    Claire Tiltman Murder: Ex-Milkman Guilty

    Written By Unknown on Kamis, 11 Desember 2014 | 22.56

    Former milkman Colin Ash-Smith has been found guilty of murdering schoolgirl Claire Tiltman in a "frenzied attack" in 1993.

    The 46-year-old stabbed Claire Tiltman from behind as she took a short cut through an alleyway to a friend's house in 1993, four days after her 16th birthday.

    Claire's friends broke down in tears as the verdict was read out at Inner London Crown Court.

    Ash-Smith stared straight ahead as the jury of seven men and five women gave their verdict after around three hours of deliberation.

    After killing Ms Tiltman, he launched a second attack on another young woman, Charlotte Barnard, in the same town, Greenhithe in Kent, in 1995, leaving her for dead.

    She was stabbed 14 times but survived and Ash-Smith was later jailed.

    A search of his distinctive white Ford Capri uncovered one half of a school tie which police established had been used in the rape, kidnap and attempted murder of a 27-year-old woman in Swanscombe on 21 December 1988.

    At the time of his arrest, Ash-Smith denied any involvement in Claire's death when questioned by detectives.

    But officers continued to examine the similarities between his other attacks and Claire's death. A number of clues led back to Ash-Smith, including a prison confession and the fact that he attended Claire's funeral.

    Prosecutor Brian Altman told the court Ash-Smith had derived a "warped pleasure" from killing Claire.

    He said: "Make no mistake, this was a killing for the sake of killing, carried out by a ruthless and predatory armed killer, who attacked his chosen victim rapidly and stealthily, allowing her no time for defence or escape, and who fled the scene just as efficiently as he had arrived."

    Cold case Detective Rob Vinson said the murder was one of the most "horrific" and "emotive" cases he had worked on.

    "On the night in question Claire was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

    "When you look at the writings and some of the things he has done, this is a very, very dangerous individual, and justice has been served at last for the brutal murder of Claire."

    Claire's parents have died in the two decades since her killing and police say their deaths made officers more determined to catch her killer.

    In a statement Claire's family said: "A big thank you to the Kent Police who never gave up trying to find Claire's killer.

    "We would also like to thank Claire's friends.

    "Claire's parents went to their graves convinced that Ash-Smith was Claire's killer and with today's verdict may they finally rest in peace."


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    Ray Teret Jailed For 25 Years For Sex Attacks

    Ray Teret, a former DJ and close friend of Jimmy Savile, has been jailed for 25 years for a string of historical sex offences.

    The 73-year-old was found guilty last week of raping and indecently assaulting a total of 11 victims in the 1960s and 1970s.

    Teret, who was a DJ on the pirate station Radio Caroline, performed in nightclubs and youth discos run by Savile where he used his status as a local celebrity to single out vulnerable young girls.

    Sentencing him at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Mr Justice Baker said: "It is clear that you exploited your celebrity status to sexually abuse young girls when they were between 13 and 15 years of age.

    "Those who were raped had little or no understanding what was happening to them and felt they could do little to prevent the abuse taking place."

    He said Teret's "ill-judged cynicism" that his victims would not come forward was matched by his belief that the jury would not believe their accounts.

    The public gallery, which contained a number of Teret's victims, erupted into applause when the sentence was passed.

    One woman shouted "Yes" and another said "Monster" as he was led to the cells.

    Teret shook his head in the dock after the judge completed his remarks.

    His offences came to light following the publicity surrounding Savile in 2011.

    1/11

    1. Gallery: Teret Used His Status To Target Vulnerable Girls

      Ray Teret, a friend of Jimmy Savile, used his status as a local celebrity to single out vulnerable girls in nightclubs and discos

    Teret was a DJ on the pirate station Radio Caroline. He also worked at Piccadilly Radio in Manchester and performed in nightclubs and youth discos run by Savile

    ]]>

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    'Loud Bang' Forces Flight Back To Heathrow

    A British Airways flight was forced to return to Heathrow after "a loud bang" was heard by residents on the flight path in Kent.

    The Boeing 747 - flight number BA107 - turned around shortly after taking off for its journey to Dubai.

    Tony Southgate, who lives near Halstead, tweeted that the noise the aircraft made was "loud and long".

    "It was loud enough to cause my dog to panic and made me look outside," he added.

    The plane circled over Kent for a short while before landing back at the airport in west London.

    A BA spokeswoman said: "The aircraft landed safely back at Heathrow after a technical problem.

    "We're sorry for the delay to our customers' journey. They will soon be on another aircraft and on their way to Dubai."

    It was reported that the crew had a problem retracting the aircraft's undercarriage.

    One of the passengers, James Dempsey, tweeted: "Just had a lovely 1hr flight from Heathrow to Heathrow on board the new style BA 747-400 with fixed landing gear."

    He said that he had not heard the bang on board and there appeared to be "no issue other than gear wouldn't retract". 


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    Golden Globes Recognise Best Of British Talent

    It could be a very British night at the Golden Globes next month after a host of TV and film stars were nominated for awards.

    David Oyewolo, Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne will go head-to-head in the best actor in a drama category for their portrayals of real life figures Martin Luther King Jr (in Selma), Alan Turing and Professor Stephen Hawking.

    Cumberbatch and Redmayne have been hotly tipped to do well this awards season following their performances in The Imitation Game and The Theory Of Everything.

    The pair's co-stars Keira Knightley and Felicity Jones are nominated in the supporting actress and actress drama categories respectively.

    Rosamund Pike will be up against Jones for best actress after her much lauded performance in David Fincher's Gone Girl.

    American stars Jennifer Aniston (Cake), Julianne Moore (Still Alice) and Reese Witherspoon (Wild) are also named in that category.

    Steve Carell (Foxcatcher) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) will be aiming to fend off the British talent in the best actor category.

    Britons Emily Blunt and Helen Mirren are nominated for best comedy actress for Into The Woods and The Hundred Foot Journey.

    Birdman leads the way with seven nominations, including best actor in a comedy for Michael Keaton and best director for Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu.

    The Imitation Game and Richard Linklater's Boyhood received five nods. 

    The best motion picture drama nominees are Boyhood, Foxcatcher, The Imitation Game, Selma and The Theory Of Everything.

    In the race for best comedy or musical film are Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Into The Woods, Pride and St Vincent.

    Despite Gone Girl being a huge box office hit, it failed to pick up a best film nomination.

    In the television categories, Game Of Thrones and True Detective, which both aired on Sky Atlantic, are up both for best drama series.

    Fargo took the most nominations with five, including nods for Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton.

    Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt will be fighting it out for the best supporting actress TV prize.

    Ricky Gervais, who hosted the Globes in 2011 and 2012, is nominated for his TV show Derek.

    The awards will take place on 11 January, 2015, hosted by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.

    The Globes nominations were announced a day after the SAG award contenders.

    Birdman topped that list with four nods, including best ensemble cast and best actor for Keaton.

    Although more high-profile than the SAGs, the Golden Globes are seen as less of an indicator of Oscars glory, as a relatively small group of non-US journalists chooses the winners, rather than the industry itself.


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    Madeleine McCann Cops Question Robert Murat

    Written By Unknown on Rabu, 10 Desember 2014 | 22.56

    A British man who was questioned over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007 has been interviewed by police in Faro.

    Robert Murat was first questioned shortly after the toddler was reported missing by her parents in May 2007.

    British police returned to the Algarve in Portugal this week as four women and seven men who it is thought may have information relating to the case are expected to be interviewed over Madeleine's disappearance.

    Portuguese police will do the questioning, but will be observed by their British counterparts.

    Britain opened an investigation in July last year, nearly five years after local police closed their investigation.

    British officers searched three areas of land in the resort of Praia da Luz in June, close to where Madeleine disappeared, but found no new evidence.

    The three-year-old went missing from her holiday apartment on 3 May 2007 while her parents were having dinner at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends.

    1/7

    1. Gallery: Madeleine Police's Praia Da Luz Search

      British police search another site in Portugal outside the resort of Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, where Madeleine McCann disappeared in May 2007.

    Scotland Yard detectives bring in sniffer dogs to search the new area.

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    'Weather Bomb': What Is Happening And Where?

    As a huge storm system - known as a "weather bomb" - batters the northern half of the UK, here are the key developments so far:

    :: More than 30,000 homes were left without power at one point.

    :: A Spanish fishing vessel is being escorted to safety after getting into difficulties off Orkney.

    :: Some 20 vehicles had to be freed after becoming stuck in icy conditions on Cairn O' Mount, a high mountain pass, in Aberdeenshire.

    :: Three flood warnings and 10 flood alerts have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

    :: The Met Office has issued an amber ''be prepared'' warning for the west coast of Scotland, the Highlands and Islands, Orkney, Shetland and Northern Ireland.

    :: Giant waves measuring 52ft have been recorded off the Outer Hebrides.

    :: Gusts of more than 80mph have been recorded.

    :: Many Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services, which operate in the west of Scotland, have been cancelled or disrupted, while the Argyll Ferries service between Gourock and Dunoon has been suspended.

    :: There are also disruptions and cancellations on NorthLink Ferries services between Orkney, Shetland and the mainland, while P&O ferries said its Larne and Cairnryan sailings were operating with delays of up to at least two hours, with further disruption expected throughout the day.

    :: Several train services have been cancelled as a safety precaution, Network Rail and train operator ScotRail announced.

    1/16

    1. Gallery: Weather Bomb Explodes On UK Coast

      Waves crash against the harbour wall at Portstewart in Northern Ireland

    Waves crash against the promenade wall in Prestwick, Scotland

    ]]>

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    Palestinian Minister Dies After Troop Clash

    A Palestinian minister has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops in the West Bank.

    Ziad Abu Ein was taking part in a tree-planting demonstration in Turmus Aya when he was hit in the chest by an Israeli soldier's helmet and teargas was fired.

    He then began to experience breathing problems, and died while he was being taken to hospital by ambulance.

    Announcing three days of national mourning, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas called Mr Abu Ein's death "a barbaric act which we cannot be silent about or accept."

    About 100 foreign and Palestinian activists were on their way to plant trees near an Israeli settlement when they were stopped at an improvised checkpoint.

    A group of around 15 Israeli soldiers fired tear gas at the protesters and began scuffling with them, witnesses said.

    One marcher said Mr Abu Ain marched toward the soldiers ahead of everyone else, until he was stopped by a soldier.

    He said the soldier headbutted the politician then hit him in the chest with his rifle butt.

    An Israeli Defence Force spokesman said it was "reviewing occurrences" at the demonstration and updates would follow.

    Sky's Middle East reporter Tom Rayner said: "It is certainly a very serious situation. The noises coming out of the Palestinian leadership do not suggest they are going to be particularly amenable to offers of conciliation at this stage."

    More follows...


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    Britain Braced As 'Weather Bomb' Closes In

    Waves of 52ft were recorded and power was cut to more than 30,000 homes as a "weather bomb" rolled across the UK.

    As well as disruption to energy supplies, the severe storm led to ferry and train cancellations, and school closures.

    The Met Office has issued amber "be prepared" weather alerts for western Scotland, the Highlands, Northern Ireland, Orkney and Shetland and Strathclyde regions.

    Yellow weather warnings have also been issued across England's South East, South West, North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, as well as in northern Wales and several other areas.

    Waves 52ft high - measured as "phenomenal" on the Douglas Sea Scale - have been recorded off the Outer Hebrides.

    Gale-force gusts of more than 80mph also struck some northern coastal areas.

    Off the coast of Orkney, a rescue operation was launched to help a British-registered fishing vessel which issued a Mayday call after getting into difficulties.

    The 33ft trawler, with 16 Spanish crew, had one of its bridge windows smashed and some equipment damaged in the stormy conditions.

    The O'Genita is being escorted to Westray in Orkney by the Stromness lifeboat.

    And 20 vehicles had to be freed after becoming stuck in icy conditions on Cairn O' Mount, a high mountain pass, in Aberdeenshire.

    Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) engineers said at lunchtime it had restored power to more than 27,000 homes, but that 4,200 customers remained cut-off.

    Rodney Grubb, head of operations for SHEPD, said: "We knew the bad weather was coming and we meticulously prepared for it with hundreds of additional staff."

    Gale force winds have also battered the northern coast of Ireland. The counties of Donegal, Londonderry and Antrim have been the worst hit.

    Power shortages have been reported on both sides of the border, and ferry travel to Scotland has been disrupted, with a number of sailings cancelled or delayed.

    The extreme conditions are being caused by rapid cyclogenesis - known colloquially as a "weather bomb" - a deep low pressure system moving slowly eastwards between Scotland and Iceland.

    Sky News Weather Presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Scotland, northern England, Northern Ireland and the north of the Republic are today experiencing very stormy conditions, with strong gusty winds and large waves, posing problems for both rush hours and ferry crossings.

    "The heavy showers in the north could also produce some hail and thunder, as well as snow across hills and mountains.

    "With the strong gusty winds, this could mean drifting and blizzard conditions as well."

    More southerly areas of the UK are likely to be hit by a second storm due to roll in from the Atlantic on Thursday night.

    Dr Steven Godby, an expert in natural hazards at Nottingham Trent University, said: "Infamous examples of 'weather bombs' include the storm that wreaked havoc during the August 1979 Fastnet yacht race, claiming the lives of 15 competitors, and the 1991 Perfect Storm off the north east coast of the United States."

    :: Send us your pictures and videos by emailing news@sky.com, texting 84501 or tweeting @SkyNews.

    :: Full weather and travel updates at skynews.com, Sky News for iPad app, mobile devices and your local commercial radio station.


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    Chaotic Scenes As Dewani Leaves Cape Town

    Written By Unknown on Selasa, 09 Desember 2014 | 22.56

    Shrien Dewani has boarded a flight out of South Africa after being cleared of plotting his wife's death on their honeymoon.

    The case against the 34-year-old was thrown out by Judge Jeanette Traverso, who ruled that prosecution arguments fell "far below" the level needed for a conviction for the murder of Anni Dewani.

    Mr Dewani arrived at Cape Town airport with members of his family and they boarded an Emirates flight to Dubai.

    It is believed they will take a connecting flight from there to Britain.

    Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford said the businessman, who made no comment, looked "very well" and "very relaxed" despite the chaotic scenes as he was surrounded by dozens of photographers.

    He "looked very different to the man who appeared in the dock" on Monday, Crawford added.

    "He had a full police escort, with at least half a dozen police officers around him. He refused to answer any questions. He looked extremely well," she said.

    Mr Dewani, of Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, had denied any involvement in the murder of his 28-year-old wife.

    He said she was killed during a botched carjacking during their Cape Town honeymoon in November 2010.

    The dismissal of the case led to angry scenes outside court as Mrs Dewani's family criticised the South African justice system.

    In a statement read outside the court, the Hindocha family said: "The knowledge of not knowing is going to haunt us for the rest of our lives."

    Mrs Dewani's sister Ami Denborg told Sky's Alex Crawford: "The justice system has failed us."

    The family say they will review the case with their lawyers to see if they can file a civil lawsuit against Mr Dewani in the UK.

    Three men - Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and gunman Xolile Mngeni - have already been convicted over Mrs Dewani's murder.

    Qwabe is currently serving a 25-year sentence. Mngeni was serving life for firing the shot that killed Mrs Dewani, but died from a brain tumour in October.

    But Judge Traverso said chief prosecution witness cab driver Tongo's claims about the murder were "riddled with contradictions" and "highly debatable".

    Prosecutors claimed Dewani, who is bisexual, wanted to leave the relationship and arranged the carjacking during the couple's trip to South Africa.

    But Dewani's defence team argued the case against him was weak.


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    Asian And Gay: Doctor Was Driven To His Death

    By Ashish Joshi, Sky News Correspondent

    A young medic took his own life two days after his family told him to find a "cure" for his sexuality, his devastated fiance has told Sky News.

    Matt Ogston said he moved from Birmingham to London to live openly with his partner of 13 years, Nazim Mahmood, who feared there would be "catastrophic" consequences if his family found out he was gay. 

    But during a trip home to celebrate Eid in July, Dr Mahmood was confronted by his mother and felt forced to tell her he was planning to marry a man.

    Mr Ogston said: "The reaction was underwhelming and also surprising - the reaction was to basically ask him to see a psychiatrist to find a cure.

    "When he asked 'why do I need to find a cure, there's nothing wrong with me, I'm just a good person trying to live a good life,' that must have created such a sadness within Naz.

    "I only wish I'd had longer to have spoken to Naz, to try and talk things through and just tell him it would be okay."

    Dr Mahmood, 34, who ran a successful clinic offering cosmetic treatments, died after falling from the balcony of his fourth floor penthouse flat on 30 July. 

    The Shrien Dewani case shone a spotlight on one of the last taboos for many members of Britain's Asian communities - homosexuality.

    The subject is rarely talked about and coming out is extremely difficult in most cases, and impossible in others. 

    In extreme cases gay Asian men and women face violence, or even death.

    'H' comes from a wealthy, middle class family from a big town in Pakistan.

    While he was still at college he was outed by a member of his extended family.

    The reaction was predictably violent. 'H' was given a choice: exorcism or death.

    "They take a stick and they burn it on your hands and parts of your body," he said.

    "And you scream. And they think the demons are leaving your body. That happened to me several times."

    'H' lied to live. He said the painful exorcisms had "cured" him, but his lover refused to renounce his homosexuality.

    He was beaten to death by his own father. 'H' heard the screams for help.

    Seeking refuge in Britain, 'H' thought attitudes here would be different.

    But instead the same prejudices that exist in the subcontinent have been transferred to successive generations born and raised in this country.

    Jasvir Ginday, a bank worker from Walsall, is serving a life sentence for murdering his wife, Varkha Rani.

    The two were married in a lavish arranged marriage in Punjab, India. It was a marriage that Ginday had himself helped to arrange.

    But on her arrival in this country Varkha Rani discovered her husband was gay.

    Detective Superintendent Sab Johal investigated the murder and soon discovered Gindal was active on Birmingham's gay scene and did little to hide his sexuality.

    "We know for a fact that his friends knew he was visiting the gay quarter," he said.

    "He came here with his friends. So he was more than happy to be a gay man here, but yet he still played the part of somebody that was prepared to get married.

    "He went to India and duped a young girl to come over here. That makes his crime even more malicious."

    Some Asian parents force their gay sons and daughters into marriages in the mistaken belief that heterosexual sex will "cure" them.

    Detective Sergeant Trudi Runham is one of West Midlands Police's most experienced officers dealing with the issue.

    Her Team Sentinel unit has rescued gay men from forced marriages. She says the number of cases is increasing.

    "Nationally 20% of referrals for forced marriages are men. And we know that some of those are gay men," she said.

    But there are some signs of change.

    Yatin Mistry is from an orthodox Hindu family. Telling his parents he was gay was the most difficult thing he has ever had to do.

    "My dad's initial reaction was 'look son, I'm not happy. But I love you, you're still my son'.

    "What's going to be difficult is how society is going to react and how your mum will react.

    "My mum cried. She blamed herself, saying 'what have I done? I must have done something wrong'. The whole coming out process took over a year."

    But now the IT analyst is planning to marry his boyfriend. And he has his parents' blessing.


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    Threat Made To Kidnap And Kill Police Officer

    Police in the West Midlands have had a special security briefing after a threat was made to kidnap and kill an officer in Birmingham, Sky News has learned.

    The force said officers and staff had been given an "additional safety reminder" after it received "anonymous information".

    Officers were told to avoid showing any of their uniform while travelling to work.

    They were also advised about police station security.

    West Midlands Police would not confirm the nature of the threat but said the information "continues to be assessed".

    The overall threat level to police across Britain was raised to substantial in October, meaning an attack is a strong possibility.

    Assistant Chief Constable Garry Forsyth said: "There is nothing at this time to suggest there is an increased risk to members of the public.

    "We have taken the opportunity to remind all employees of the need to be vigilant.

    "Our priority remains serving our communities and protecting them from harm.

    "Officers remain on patrol and our staff continue to respond to calls for service as usual."

    Police stressed that officers had to stay past their shifts for the late-night security talk, or were spoken to before they started work - but were not taken off the streets.

    Mr Forsyth confirmed to Sky News that the threat was "credible".

    The alert comes after four men were charged with terror offences in October, including allegations they carried out "hostile reconnaissance" of Shepherd's Bush police station in London.

    Metropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said he was assessing the situation in the capital following the West Midlands threat.

    "I believe it to be an anonymous call that's been made," he said.

    "One of my colleagues has talked to the Chief Constable of West Midlands this morning to find out exactly what the state of that threat is.

    "And once we've assessed it, we'll decide whether or not to give any further advice."


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    Britain To Be Battered By 'Weather Bomb'

    Britons are being warned to brace themselves for a so-called "weather bomb" which is due to hit the country this week.

    The Met Office has already issued a number of amber and yellow weather warnings as the cold front sweeps in, with conditions deteriorating significantly from Tuesday night.

    Forecasters are warning that Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England and Wales can expect freezing winds that will peak on Wednesday.

    Exposed parts of northwest Scotland could endure 80mph gales and snow on higher ground.

    The rapid cyclogenesis - known colloquially as a "weather bomb" - is a deep low pressure system moving slowly eastwards between Scotland and Iceland.

    Ferry services in Scotland have been already been disrupted by the weather and the winds are expected to whip up unusually high waves, with sea swells of up to 12m in parts.

    The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has eight flood alerts in place for the west coast.

    The Forth, Kessock and Skye bridges have been closed to high-sided vehicles because of the rising wind speeds.

    More southerly areas of the UK are likely to be hit by a second storm due to roll in from the Atlantic on Thursday evening.

    England, Wales, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland could all be hit by 70mph winds.

    Clear skies will mean plummeting temperatures and frost for much of the country in the coming days.

    Police dealt with a number of crashes as drivers were warned of treacherous conditions.

    In Dumfries and Galloway, a woman died after the car she was driving was in an accident with an ambulance near Sanquhar at about 8.40am.

    Police Scotland said it was too early to say whether freezing conditions contributed.

    The yellow weather warnings that have been issued are the lowest category and mean people are urged to be aware of the potentially serious conditions.

    Forecasters say it is too early to accurately predict whether Britain will experience a white Christmas.

    :: Send us your pictures and videos by emailing news@sky.com,  texting 84501 or tweeting @SkyNews

    :: Full weather and travel updates at skynews.com, Sky News for iPad app, mobile devices and your local commercial radio station.


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    Anni's Family: 'Justice System Failed Us'

    Written By Unknown on Senin, 08 Desember 2014 | 22.56

    Moments after Shrien Dewani was ruled not guilty of murder, his wife Anni's family told Sky News: "The justice system has failed us."

    Ms Dewani's sister Ami Denborg was in tears as she spoke to Sky News Special Correspondent Alex Crawford outside the court in Cape Town.

    Asked if the South African authorities had let his family down, her heartbroken father Vinod Hindocha shouted: "Yes, yes, yes."

    Ms Denborg had struggled to contain her emotions as she read a family statement outside the courtroom.

    She said: "We came here looking for the truth and all we got was more questions. We waited patiently for four years to hear what really happened to our dearest little sister.

    "All we wanted to hear was the events ... and that has kept us as a family going. This right has been taken away from us.

    "We feel really, really sad because we never heard the full story from Shrien. We heard he led a double life and Anni knew nothing about it."

    Her brother Anish collapsed in tears as she said: "The knowledge of not knowing is going to haunt us for the rest of our lives.

    "We had four years of sleepless nights and we will we ever be able to sleep."

    Anni's uncle Ashok Hindocha also released a statement, saying: "We do not feel we have been presented with the whole story and the decision to end the trial without the defendant offering a defence means we, and the good people of South Africa, the UK and various parts of the world who have followed the case, will always live without ever knowing the complete events that led up to Anni's death.

    "We would have preferred that Shrien Dewani went into the witness box and told in his words what happened after he was accused of her murder.

    "We know now that he was having gay sex with male prostitutes and declared himself bisexual on the first day of his trial."

    He said Ms Dewani would never have agreed to the marriage if she had known about her husband's "secret sex life" and confirmed the family would speak to lawyers about bringing a civil case against Mr Dewani in the UK.

    Mr Hindocha added: "As far as Anni's grief-stricken parents are concerned, they would not wish the torture they have endured onto any other mother of father.

    "They will live forever with the warm and magical memories of Anni, but these memories will always be tinged with the pain of the fact that closure has not been afforded them."

    Mr Dewani's family hugged and cried tears of joy after the verdict was announced.

    A relative who spoke through the intercom at the family's home in Bristol told Sky News: "We are very happy."

    Nathi Mncube, a spokesman for South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority, said he believed the authorities were right to pursue the case, despite anger at the amount of taxpayers' money spent to bring Mr Dewani before the court.

    He said: "Obviously, we are very disappointed with the outcome today. When we started with the trial this is not what we set out to achieve.

    "We believed there was evidence, otherwise we would not have taken the case to court."

    Emotions were also running high on the steps of the courthouse, where a lobby group chanted: "Justice for Anni."


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    Why Has The Dewani Case Collapsed?

    By Nick Ludlam, Africa News Editor, in Cape Town

    It took the South African authorities four years to put Shrien Dewani on trial, only for a judge to throw the case out after two months.

    Mr Dewani, who has been ruled not guilty by the Cape Town court, has always denied any involvement in the murder of his wife Anni in 2010.

    Judge Jeanette Traverso said in her ruling on Monday that there was no reasonable evidence to bring a conviction.

    Here are some of the contributing factors behind her decision.

    The credibility of Zola Tongo's and other witnesses' evidence:

    Zola Tongo was the state's star witness and agreed to testify against Mr Dewani as part of a plea bargain.

    The taxi driver was jailed for 18 years in 2010 for his part in the murder of Ms Dewani and claimed he was paid just over £1,000 to arrange the murder.

    CCTV revealed in court showed Mr Dewani and Tongo locked in conversation at the hotel a few days before the murder.

    Tongo claims Mr Dewani asked him if he knew anyone that could "have a client of his taken off the scene".

    However, Judge Traverso said Tongo's evidence was "riddled with contradictions".

    She said he had changed his version of events frequently when under cross-examination.

    He admitted he made mistakes in relaying to police how the new bride was murdered.

    Judge Traverso said his "evidence was of such a poor quality, one does not know when the lies end and when the truth begins".

    She also said it soon emerged under cross-examination that witness Mziwamadoda Qwabe, who has also pleaded guilty to the murder, was a self-confessed liar.

    The evidence of Monde Mblolombo, a hotel worker granted immunity from prosecution, was also discredited.

    Evidence about Shrien Dewani's private life ruled inadmissible:

    In a sensational admission at the beginning of the trial, Mr Dewani admitted having physical relationships with male prostitutes.

    He also admitted surfing gay dating websites the day after his bride's body was found.

    Veteran South African lawyer, Mannie Witz, who followed the trial, said: "The defence seized on that immediately and said 'you can't attack his character and his sexuality'. And the judge said 'I think the defence are right, I don't want to hear anything more'."

    The prosecution had been relying very heavily on this evidence and it was a big blow to them when the judge told them this type of 'character evidence' was inadmissible.

    In court the care home owner from Bristol claimed he was in love with the 28-year-old - despite being bisexual.

    But in an interview before the trial, Ms Dewani's sister Ami Denborg said the relationship was up and down.

    CCTV recorded on the night she was killed does seem to show a young couple in love.

    Their picture is taken by hotel staff and later they sit with their arms draped around each other.

    Shrien Dewani's side of the story:

    Mr Dewani, 34, maintained his innocence throughout the case and said he had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since the murder.

    The South African authorities spent a lot of time and money arranging his extradition ahead of the trial.

    Ms Dewani's family claimed Mr Dewani had insisted throughout the case that he would clear his name and that his legal team had promised the court dozens of times he would give his own version of events.

    The family have waited years for answers, but Mr Dewani has never been cross-examined.

    Last week Ms Dewani's brother, Anish Hindocha, called a news conference on behalf of his family and begged Mr Dewani to "tell the world what happened the night she died".

    Mr Hindocha said: "My message is simple: Don't let Shrien Dewani walk away without giving us, South Africa and people all over the world the full story."

    Now that the case has collapsed they may never know the full facts.


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